Tholomyes followed； dominating the group。
He was very gay； but one felt the force of government in him； there was dictation in his joviality； his principal ornament was a pair of trousers of elephant…leg pattern of nankeen； with straps of braided copper wire； he carried a stout rattan worth two hundred francs in his hand； and； as he treated himself to everything； a strange thing called a cigar in his mouth。Nothing was sacred to him； he smoked。
〃That Tholomyes is astounding！〃 said the others； with veneration。〃What trousers！
What energy！〃
As for Fantine； she was a joy to behold。
Her splendid teeth had evidently received an office from God；laughter。
She preferred to carry her little hat of sewed straw； with its long white strings； in her hand rather than on her head。
Her thick blond hair； which was inclined to wave； and which easily uncoiled； and which it was necessary to fasten up incessantly； seemed made for the flight of Galatea under the willows。
Her rosy lips babbled enchantingly。The corners of her mouth voluptuously turned up； as in the antique masks of Erigone； had an air of encouraging the audacious； but her long； shadowy lashes drooped discreetly over the jollity of the lower part of the face as though to call a halt。
There was something indescribably harmonious and striking about her entire dress。She wore a gown of mauve barege； little reddish brown buskins； whose ribbons traced an X on her fine； white； open…worked stockings； and that sort of muslin spencer； a Marseilles invention； whose name； canezou； a corruption of the words quinze aout； pronounced after the fashion of the Canebiere； signifies fine weather； heat； and midday。The three others； less timid； as we have already said； wore low…necked dresses without disguise； which in summer； beneath flower…adorned hats； are very graceful and enticing； but by the side of these audacious outfits； blond Fantine's canezou； with its transparencies； its indiscretion； and its reticence； concealing and displaying at one and the same time； seemed an alluring godsend of decency； and the famous Court of Love； presided over by the Vitesse de Cette； with the sea…green eyes； would； perhaps； have awarded the prize for coquetry to this canezou； in the contest for the prize of modesty。The most ingenious is； at times； the wisest。
This does happen。
Brilliant of face； delicate of profile； with eyes of a deep blue； heavy lids； feet arched and small； wrists and ankles admirably formed； a white skin which； here and there allowed the azure branching of the veins to be seen； joy； a cheek that was young and fresh； the robust throat of the Juno of AEgina； a strong and supple nape of the neck； shoulders modelled as though by Coustou； with a voluptuous dimple in the middle； visible through the muslin； a gayety cooled by dreaminess； sculptural and exquisitesuch was Fantine； and beneath these feminine adornments and these ribbons one could divine a statue； and in that statue a soul。
Fantine was beautiful； without being too conscious of it。Those rare dreamers； mysterious priests of the beautiful who silently confront everything with perfection； would have caught a glimpse in this little working…woman； through the transparency of her Parisian grace； of the ancient sacred euphony。
This daughter of the shadows was thoroughbred。
She was beautiful in the two ways style and rhythm。
Style is the form of the ideal； rhythm is its movement。
We have said that Fantine was joy； she was also modesty。
To an observer who studied her attentively； that which breathed from her athwart all the intoxication of her age； the season； and her love affair； was an invincible expression of reserve and modesty。She remained a little astonished。
This chaste astonishment is the shade of difference which separates Psyche from Venus。Fantine had the long； white； fine fingers of the vestal virgin who stirs the ashes of the sacred fire with a golden pin。
Although she would have refused nothing to Tholomyes； as we shall have more than ample opportunity to see； her face in repose was supremely virginal； a sort of serious and almost austere dignity suddenly overwhelmed her at certain times； and there was nothing more singular and disturbing than to see gayety bee so suddenly extinct there； and meditation succeed to cheerfulness without any transition state。This sudden and sometimes severely accentuated gravity resembled the disdain of a goddess。
Her brow； her nose； her chin； presented that equilibrium of outline which is quite distinct from equilibrium of proportion； and from which harmony of countenance results； in the very characteristic interval which separates the base of the nose from the upper lip； she had that imperceptible and charming fold； a mysterious sign of chastity； which makes Barberousse fall in love with a Diana found in the treasures of Iconia。
Love is a fault； so be it。
Fantine was innocence floating high over fault。
BOOK THIRD。IN THE YEAR 1817
CHAPTER IV
THOLOMYES IS SO MERRY THAT HE SINGS A SPANISH DITTY
That day was posed of dawn； from one end to the other。All nature seemed to be having a holiday； and to be laughing。The flower…beds of Saint…Cloud perfumed the air； the breath of the Seine rustled the leaves vaguely； the branches gesticulated in the wind； bees pillaged the jasmines； a whole bohemia of butterflies swooped down upon the yarrow； the clover； and the sterile oats； in the august park of the King of France there was a pack of vagabonds； the birds。
The four merry couples； mingled with the sun； the fields； the flowers； the trees； were resplendent。
And in this munity of Paradise； talking； singing； running； dancing； chasing butterflies； plucking convolvulus； wetting their pink； open…work stockings in the tall grass； fresh； wild； without malice； all received； to some extent； the kisses of all； with the exception of Fantine； who was hedged about with that vague resistance of hers posed of dreaminess and wildness； and who was in love。〃You always have a queer look about you；〃 said Favourite to her。
Such things are joys。
These passages of happy couples are a profound appeal to life and nature； and make a caress and light spring forth from everything。
There was once a fairy who created the fields and forests expressly for those in love；in that eternal hedge…school of lovers； which is forever beginning anew； and which will last as long as there are hedges and scholars。Hence the popularity of spring among thinkers。
The patrician and the knife…grinder； the duke and the peer； the limb of the law； the courtiers and townspeople； as they used to say in olden times； all are subjects of this fairy。
They laugh and hunt； and there is in the air the brilliance of an apotheosiswhat a transfiguration effected by love！
Notaries' clerks are gods。
And the little cries； the pursuits through the grass； the waists embraced on the fly； those jargons which are melodies； those adorations which burst forth in the manner of pronouncing a syllable； those cherries torn from one mouth by another；all this blazes forth and takes its place among the celestial glories。
Beautiful wo